Paso Robles High School

The FSC Field Science Course gives motivated students the chance to step out of the classroom and participate in authentic ecological research on Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands.

Working alongside scientists from the UC Natural Reserve System, National Park Service, and The Nature Conservancy, students contribute to long-term studies that help us understand how ecosystems change over time.

This course is not just about learning field biology—it’s about doing it. Students gain hands-on experience using real scientific methods to study plant communities and island wildlife.

When you join, you’ll:
🔎 Conduct botanical surveys and establish plant transects for long-term data collection.
🌱 Investigate ecosystem recovery, including studies on purple needlegrass and Bishop Pine regeneration.
🦊 Assist with monitoring and vaccination data collection for the island fox, an endemic species.
🧭 Learn essential field skills like reading topographic maps, using a compass, GPS navigation, and plant identification.
🌍 Contribute to real research that informs conservation and land management decisions.
⛺ Live and work in a remote field setting on Santa Cruz Island, staying in rustic dorms or tents while preparing meals as a team.

This isn’t just a trip—it’s a chance to be a field scientist and contribute to meaningful conservation work.

The FSC Field Science Course gives motivated students the chance to step out of the classroom and participate in authentic scientific research.

Through partnerships with programs like LiMPETS (Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students) and the Intertidal Monitoring Project in California, students just like you help monitor the health of coastal ecosystems such as tidepools and sandy beaches.

Data collected by students contributes directly to long-term scientific research that scientists and resource managers rely on to track biodiversity, climate change, and human impacts on marine life.

This course is not just about learning science—it’s about doing science. You will gain skills in data collection, analysis, and scientific communication while also building a deeper connection to the natural world.

When you join, you’ll:

🔎 Collect real data in coastal ecosystems like sandy beaches and tidepools.

🌱 Contribute to long-term monitoring projects that help protect marine life and habitats.

📊 Learn how to ask questions, analyze your data, and share your discoveries.

🌍 Join a community of students and scientists working together to protect our planet.

⛺ Stay overnight camping at the UC Natural Reserve: Rancho Marino in Cambria (part of the UC Natural Reserve System) to complete field research alongside your classmates.

This isn’t just a class—it’s a chance to be a scientist and make a difference.

The FSC Wilderness Writing Workshop gives students the opportunity to step into the desert and explore the connection between literature, creativity, and the natural world through a multi-day backpacking experience in Joshua Tree National Park.
 

Students engage with influential environmental authors while developing their own voice through observation, reflection, and creative expression in an immersive outdoor setting.
This course is not just about reading and writing—it’s about experiencing and creating. Students translate firsthand encounters with the landscape into meaningful written and artistic work.
 

When you join, you’ll:
📚 Explore the works of environmental authors such as Aldo Leopold, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Barry Lopez.
✍️ Develop your own creative writing through field journaling, poetry, and reflective practice.
🎤 Build confidence through group discussions, presentations, and peer-led seminars in outdoor settings.
🎒 Learn and apply ethical backpacking principles while navigating a multi-day wilderness experience.
🎨 Collaborate with peers to create and publish a literary zine featuring writing, photography, and artwork.
🌄 Strengthen your observational skills, creative voice, and connection to wild places.
⛺ Participate in a physically and academically rigorous experience designed for motivated 11th–12th grade students.
 

This isn’t just a writing course—it’s a chance to become a storyteller of the natural world.

The FSC University Research Experience gives students the opportunity to step into a real research lab and collaborate with university faculty and undergraduate researchers at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Through participation in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, students are immersed in ongoing scientific studies and contribute to active research projects.

This course is not just about learning research—it’s about doing it. Students gain hands-on laboratory experience while developing the skills needed to think and work like a scientist.

When you join, you’ll:
🔬 Work in a university research lab alongside faculty and undergraduate mentors.
🧪 Develop laboratory skills and complete required safety training.
📊 Participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation within an active research project.
🧠 Collaborate to design a project that contributes to ongoing scientific research.
📝 Maintain a professional laboratory notebook documenting your work.
📣 Present your findings through a formal research poster presentation.
🌍 Gain real-world experience that prepares you for future academic and career pathways in science.

This isn’t just a summer program—it’s a chance to become a researcher and contribute to real scientific discovery.